Ecology Fines Merino's Seafood for Water Quality Violations

Washington State Department of Ecology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 15, 1997

97-162

CONTACT: Marc Pacifico (360) 407-6405
Denise Clifford (360) 407-6239, pager (360) 786-3136

Ecology Fines Merino's Seafood for Water Quality Violations

Olympia, WA - The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a $58,000 penalty to Merino's Seafood, Inc. of Westport this week for contributing to pollution in the Westport Boat Basin threatening the health of fish and other marine life.

"Seafood processing waste from Merino's Seafood, is being disposed of improperly. This can cause a rise in the amount of oil and grease in the bay and a reduction in the amount of oxygen needed for marine life to thrive," said Marc Pacifico, industrial permit compliance specialist for the Department of Ecology's Southwest Regional Office.

Merino's Seafood, Inc. is permitted to discharge wastewater from its Dungeness crab processing operations, off-loading of shrimp and tuna, and processing and freezing of bottomfish fillets. Merino's expanded its operations in July without modifying its permit and began mechanically processing Pacific whiting, resulting in more waste being discharged to the bay and potentially causing pollution problems.

Fish processors are required to take actions necessary to prevent an excess of seafood waste from degrading water quality. There are different limits on what can be discharged based on the type of seafood processing activity and where the wastewater discharge from the activity is occurring. In the Westport Boat Basin, proper oxygen levels must be present so marine life can survive.

The Department of Ecology issued the penalty to Merino's for these violations:

Merino's discharged wastewater from its seafood processing operations outside its permit requirements, contributing to the potential for water quality problems in Westport Boat Basin.
Merino's did not monitor its discharge, nor submit required reports to Ecology.

Merino's has a history of not being environmentally responsible in its business operations. "We first discovered Merino's was discharging untreated seafood waste in 1995. We then helped them get a permit and worked with them to protect water quality. However, Merino's has been out of compliance with its permit requirements more often than it has been in compliance," said Megan White, the Department of Ecology's Water Quality Program Manager. " It is obvious to us that they have chosen so far not to change the way they do business."

In addition to the $58,000 penalty for violating the conditions of its permit, Merino's must immediately cease discharging any wastewater generated by processing seafood not allowed in its permit, and immediately start monitoring its discharges and submitting reports required in its permit.

Merino's has 30 days to provide new information to the Department of Ecology or appeal the penalty to the Pollution Control Hearings Board.